| When you suffer from a disease like Bipolar it's | | | | it doesn't count!5. Waking up more than once in |
| extremely important that you become intimately | | | | the middle of the night or waking up and not |
| in tune with yourself. Not in sense that your | | | | being able to get back to sleep so I get on the |
| favorite movie is "Steel Magnolias" or "Raging Bull" | | | | computer instead. Once is okay, twice is a phone |
| or that you love pizza and taking long walks on | | | | call to my doctor!6. Not wanting to read bedtime |
| the beach. I mean in the sense that you know | | | | stories to my son. This is a special time and if I'm |
| how your moods manifest in your day-to-day | | | | not in the mood, then my mood is out of |
| life.Being bipolar and trying to remain a contributing | | | | whack!Intermediate Warning Signs1. When I hear |
| member of society is a difficult task. Many | | | | people talking and assume it's about me and how |
| wonderful, talented, bright people watch helplessly | | | | fat, ugly, mean, stupid, etc. I am; then I'm on the |
| as their functionality escapes through their fingers | | | | way to the phone!2. Not wanting to shower at |
| like grains of sand. And these are people who are | | | | least every other day. Hey, I don't sweat and I |
| on meds! Some even go to therapy, too! | | | | just sit at the computer, so I don't think it hurts |
| Sometimes, the more we fight to hang on the | | | | to skip a day here and there!3. Staring out the |
| quicker the ground gives way beneath us.One | | | | window for 10-15 minutes at a time, yet not |
| tactic I attribute to remaining somewhat functional | | | | seeing anything or even realizing that I'm doing it.4. |
| for the past 7 years is acute awareness of my | | | | Taking over the conversation no matter who I'm |
| early warning signs. It works just like the | | | | talking to at that moment or even who they're |
| emergency broadcast system except without the | | | | talking to at the moment.5. Wanting to go to the |
| annoying beep! It gets tested regularly to make | | | | mall. Not actually going, just thinking about going is |
| sure it's still relevant and it's there in case of an | | | | enough. Sounds silly doesn't it? For me it means I |
| emergency. It even has an emergency number to | | | | want to spend money and I don't have much |
| call...the one that rings my psychiatrist.Now, when | | | | disposable income. Plus, I'm not real fond of |
| I say early warning signs, I mean EARLY! Not | | | | shopping. Even when I need something I still don't |
| things like "I've been crying for days and don't | | | | like to go!Most of these things have to happen a |
| know why" or "I went out and spent $5000.00 on | | | | few times over a period of a couple days to |
| a new television but didn't pay the electric bill." | | | | count as a true sign. Usually a couple will occur |
| Those are examples of symptoms of an ensuing | | | | together and then there is no doubt. As soon as |
| episode. It may end up being minor, but it's better | | | | I'm leery I call my psychiatrist and he will adjust |
| to catch the signs long before this stage.The signs | | | | my dosage of medicines. Sometimes he will quiz |
| I'm talking about are infinitely subtler. They require | | | | me about my diet and fluid intake as well and |
| a magnifying glass to properly identify. No one can | | | | correct it if necessary. (He's smart enough not to |
| tell you for sure what yours are, but some close | | | | eliminate my chocolate though!) If I'm getting into |
| friends or relatives may be able to point out | | | | multiple intermediate signs then I will even go in |
| some behavior patterns that qualify. I also | | | | for a visit. My sanctity is worth it!I have a |
| recognize more than just the early signs. | | | | responsibility to myself to remain as healthy as |
| Intermediate signs can play an important roll if the | | | | possible. It's hard to do if you don't know when |
| early signs don't show themselves or get | | | | you're becoming unstable. And I can't wait until I'm |
| ignored.Here are some samples of my signs:Early | | | | into a full-blown episode because a darling angel |
| Warnings1. I start to see shadows or movement | | | | depends on me. So I do it for him, too. But |
| out of the corner of my eye, but when I turn | | | | mostly I do it because I like myself more when I |
| and look there is nothing. I usually think I saw a | | | | can think rationally.So, let's do our best to stay |
| bug or spider and I HATE bugs and spiders.2. I am | | | | healthy and be kind to ourselves as we struggle |
| unable to pick out clothes without standing in the | | | | through the torment of this debilitating disease |
| closet and staring for 10 minutes at a time. Then, | | | | together!Terry J. Coyier is a 37-year-old college |
| out of frustration, I leave, only to return again 10 | | | | student studying for an Associates of Applied |
| minutes later to start the cycle again. Some days | | | | Sciences degree. She is also a freelance writer |
| it's okay to do this, but if goes on for more than | | | | who writes about bipolar disorder and other |
| 3 days it's a warning sign for me.3. One | | | | mental illnesses. Terry was diagnosed with bipolar |
| occurrence of staying up all night. I am a big | | | | ten years ago. She lives with her son in the Dallas |
| sleeper and this is a huge no-no for me!4. While | | | | Ft. Worth Metroplex. Terry is an author on which |
| screening my calls (which I normally do anyway) if | | | | is a site for Writers and her personal portfolio can |
| I don't pick up when my friends call, that's | | | | be viewed here. |
| definitely a sign. UNLESS I'm taking a nap and then | | | | |